Congress wants people to decide its CM candidate for Punjab

In an obvious embarrassment for the Congress ahead of the announcement of its chief ministers face for Punjab Assembly polls former state unit party chief Sunil Jakhar a prominent Hindu face has spilled beans by saying Navjot Sidhu and Charanjit Channi were least favoured as the Chief Ministers probable after Capt Amarinder Singhs exitHe said he was the first choice with 42 of the 79 legislators favoured his name replacing incumbent Capt Amarinder Singh in last SeptemberJakhars assertions come at a time when the party is conducting an opinion telesurvey on who should the Congress nominate as its CM candidate The race is hot between Channi the states first Dalit Chief Minister and Sidhu a Jat SikhSeeking votes for his nephew Sandeep Jakhar the third generation who is in the fray from Abohar in Fazilka district the stronghold of Jakhars for five decades the former Congress chief said Chief Minister Charanjit Channi was preferred by only two legislators in an internal survey by the party based on telephonic conversationIn a video Jakhar was heard saying the Congress high command had asked all 79 of the partys Punjab MLAs to give their preference for the chief ministerial post after Captain Amarinder Singh resignedSunil Jakhar was favoured by 42 MLAs Sukhjinder Randhawa got 16 votes and Preneet Kaur got support of 12 MLAs Navjot Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi were liked by six and two MLAs respectively Jakhar saidDespite being denied the top post I am very happy that most MLAs trusted me This is what I have earned in my career I do not hold the post but the MLAs were in my favour he addedWith last weeks assurance by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi that workers will decide well ahead of the February 20 polling a power struggle is on between Sidhu and Channi to be the chief ministerial candidateCurrently voters have been getting tele calls to give their opinion as to who should Congress nominate as its chief ministerial candidate Those receiving the calls are also being asked whether Congress should reveal the name or notPolitical observers told IANS that it will be a tough task for the party high command to choose Channi a Dalit Sikh or Sidhu a Jat Sikh in a state with a population caste mix of roughly 32 per cent Dalits 30 per cent Jat Sikhs and 40 per cent the restMost of the cabinet ministers and top leaders are standing behind Channi owing to his soft approach easy accessibility and the most important the biggest Dalit face If the high command projects Sidhu as the chief ministers face it could upset the partys Dalit vote bank a senior Congress leader told IANS requesting anonymityThe crucial challenge against Sidhu is that hes neither a Congress veteran nor enjoys a mass base He was selected to lead the party at a time when the antiincumbency of Amarinder Singh was at its peak Sidhu helped greatly in overcoming the anger against the government by attacking its policies he saidNow after building an image of transferring power from the elite to the poor the party cant ignore Channis claim at this stage the Congress leader addedIn a bid to woo Dalit voters Channi is contesting the polls from two reserved constituencies Bhadaur in Barnala district and his pocket borough Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar districtSeeing his growing influence and stature the Chief Minister has been given the second seat Bhadaur to counter the dominance of the Aam Aadmi Party AAP in Barnala and its adjoining areas in the Malwa region by consolidating the Scheduled Caste votesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever